 'N Sync - Like the Backstreet Boys before them, the
teenage male vocal group 'N Sync emerged from Orlando, Florida; though formed in
1996, their roots trace back much earlier to singers JC Chasez and Justin
Timberlake, who together previously co-starred on the Disney Channel's The
Mickey Mouse Club before later relocating to Nashville, where they worked on
solo projects with the same vocal coach and songwriters. Timberlake soon
returned to Orlando, where he befriended Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone; with
Chasez, the four agreed to form a band, and with the addition of bass James
Lance Bass, 'N Sync was complete.
Hooking up with a series of producers including Denniz Pop,
the group recorded their self-titled debut LP, initially released on BMG Ariola
Munich; 'N Sync soon became an overnight success throughout much of Europe, with
the singles "I Want You Back" and "Tearing Up My Heart" both becoming major
hits. The album was released in the U.S. in the spring of 1998, and --
accompanied by a tour of the nation's roller rinks -- it became an American hit
as well; Home for Christmas followed later that same year, and in the spring of
2000, the group broke sales records with No Strings Attached, which sold close
to 2.5 million copies in its first week of release.
Along with their success as a group, each member of 'N Sync
is also determined to make his own mark. Lance recently made his acting debut on
the hit television series 7th Heaven and has formed his own management company
Freelance Entertainment. Joey produced an acting handbook for students, written
by Karen Rugeria, his former drama coach in Orlando. In addition to contributing
songs and co-producing tracks on No Strings Attached, JCs been writing and
producing tracks for various artists including female trio Wild Orchid and Boyz
& Girlz United. Chris has started a clothing, visual art and music production
company called FuMan Skeeto. Justin appeared in the World of Walt Disney feature
Model Behavior, co-starring Maggie Lawson from Party of Five and has started a
Music Education Awareness program, The Justin Timberlake Foundation.
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